THOROUGHBRED Breeders’ Queensland Association (TBQA) president, Bob Frappell, has reacted with dismay and anger at suggestions that his members regard the QTIS 600 Scheme as a ‘social security lifeline.’
Queensland Racing Limited (QRL), in answer to a series of questions from readers of this web-site, recently revealed that the extremely popular QTIS 600 Scheme was under review but would certainly survive.
A highlight of the QRL response was: “We invest $2 million into this Scheme and believe the Breeders are not improving their stock to the extent intended. QRL wants to emphasize that QTIS 600 will not continue to be a social security lifeline for the Queensland breeders.”Mr Frappell, on behalf of the TBQA, was quick to respond: ‘There were a couple of issues that did not make sense in the story that appeared on your web-site under the heading ‘Concerns about the Future of the QTIS 600 Scheme addressed.’
“I am not at this time, nor have I ever been at loggerheads with QRL. In fact I have been a staunch supporter of most decisions made by QRL, some of which have caused my committee and me personally much angst.
“The TBQA takes exception to the suggestion from QRL that: ‘Breeders are not improving their stock to the extent intended.’ On what basis do they make that observation? Were there tangible Key Performance Indicators established so that the Breeders can be fairly judged?
“Breeding returns for 2009 have indicated that the Queensland mare coverings are down 20 per cent. The national average is down 10 per cent. Alarming, as this may appear, there are logical reasons for this trend.
“I won’t go into all of these here. But I believe this is a strong indicator that Queensland breeders are on a mare improvement course,” Mr Frappell said.
“How many times have we been told by sales companies and bloodstock agents that we would be better with five quality mares than 20 badly-bred mares?
“This appears to be the way Queensland breeders are going through mare rationalization. Breeders don’t need to be told to do it. We can see the writing on the wall for badly bred yearlings. They don’t sell.
“The above comment from QRL has been made with no evidence or insight into the breeding industry and breeders have every right to feel aggrieved by the comment.
“The suggestion that ‘QTIS 600 will not continue to be a social security lifeline for the Queensland Breeders’ is not only ludicrous but also insulting to all breeders in this State.
“For the record, at the conclusion of the QTIS 600 sale of 2010, the TBQA in conjunction with the TBA will have contributed $180,000 to the Promotional Fund.
“The cost to nominate a yearling is $1500 and commission is payable on the sale of each yearling and a pass in commission is payable if you don’t sell. On top of that the fee to enter QTIS 600 is $3000.
“As breeders we race 65 per cent of all horses in work. I would say that the breeders are getting no free ride. Nor do we want a free ride and we have never asked for one.
“QTIS 600 is a fantastic Scheme. The TBQA is happy to be contributing to the success and promotion of the Scheme. We thank and praise Messrs Bentley and co at QRL for agreeing to the formation of QTIS 600,” Mr Frappell said.
“There are suggestions floating around the industry that the QTIS 600 Scheme will be discontinued unless the TBQA dumps me as its President.
“I have heard those suggestions and I can assure Breeders that the TBQA committee has the right to dump me anytime they see fit. Until that time I will continue do my job as President of the TBQA representing breeders’ interests at all levels.”
